INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

CHANGING CONSUMPTION PATTERNS

Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies

No information is available.

Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations

Draft legislation to form a new Guyana Energy Agency has been completed. This new
agency will incorporate under one umbrella all of the various energy related departments
and units which would allow for the improvement in institutional arrangements. This will
ensure more effective and efficient co-ordination planning and monitoring of energy
matters. The Agency responsible for mining, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA which will ensure that Environmental
Management is integrated in mining activities. Thus all large scale mining operations are
subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment as provided for under the Environmental
Protection Act.

Guyana has formulated a National Energy Policy (NEP) in which the basic core
idea is the substitution of imported fossil fuels through the promotion and increased use
of renewable sources of energy with which Guyana is well endowed. Recognizing the vital
link between energy and development, the NEP administers short, medium and long term
technological options for satisfying energy demand.

Guyana is well endowed with renewable energy resources including hydropower, biomass,
solar, wind and biogas. The NEP reviewed energy supply mixes and recommended a shift
toward further use of renewable sources of energy.

Co-operation with the newly established EPA to ensure that energy planning and project
implementation are done in an environmentally acceptable manner has already begun through
a Natural Resources and Environment Advisory Committee.

Efforts are being made to promote energy conservation through public awareness
programmes. Energy Audits at various industrial and other enterprises are being
undertaken.

In the area of transportation there has been the introduction of unleaded gasoline into
the Guyana market. As of January 1999, leaded gasoline will no longer be imported. The
GNEA, EPA and GNBS are collaborating on a programme to ensure gasoline using vehicles are
fitted with catalytic converters and with the setting of vehicle emission standards.

Mining has contributed significantly to Guyana's economic well-being. In 1994 gold
became the largest source of export earning, accounting for 28% of the total, compared to
7% in 1992. Bauxite and gold in the same year accounted for a total of 46% of export
earning. This demonstrates that mining maintained a strong position in Guyana's economy.
Thus, one can emphasize its importance to sustainable development.

Government therefore recognizes the need to sustain and encourage large scale
exploration in the area of gold production and foreign investment in the mining sector,
together with the medium and small scale efforts of our local miners who are expected to
contribute 28% of the 450,000 ounces of gold production projected for 1997.

In recognizing the competitiveness of the mining industry and noting the importance of
its contribution to economic development, Guyana has established a policy on mining. This
policy has firmly cemented the foundation for continuous growth in this sector and will
allow the sector its rightful role as a principal catalyst for sustainable development in
the future.

Guyana has integrated in its policy on mining plans to deals with social and
environmental issues arising from mining activities. In the areas of land use, the
government encourages multiple land use and is in the process of finalizing a land use
policy. It has also addressed issues with respect to indigenous people.

The GGMC has also recognized that the regulation of small and medium scale mining is
difficult because of the number and mobility of operations thus they have undertaken to
implement an Environmental Management Agreement (EMA) for these operations. The EMA covers
all aspects of mining including the use of equipment, sedimentation, control, vegetation
removal, storage and disposal of chemicals and fuel handling and uses of mercury.

Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans

No information is available.

Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement

No information is available.

Programmes and Projects

No information is available.

Status

No information is available.

Challenges

No information is available.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

No information is available.

Information

No information is available.

Research and Technologies

No information is available.

Financing

No information is available.

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of
the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.

Through technical assistance from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, a number of
private sector organizations have been encouraging their membership to move in the
direction of implementing the principles contained within the ISO-9000 document. Also the
ISO-14000 principles are currently being perused with the aim of possible adoption in
their near future.

Challenges

No information is available.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

No information is available.

Information

No information is available.

Research and Technologies

No information is available.

Financing

No information is available.

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of
the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.

Through technical assistance from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, a number of
private sector organizations have been encouraging their membership to move in the
direction of implementing the principles contained within the ISO-9000 document. Also the
ISO-14000 principles are currently being perused with the aim of possible adoption in
their near future.

A Code of Practice for responsible forest management was worked out with the
Forest Producers Association of Guyana during two years of consultation and was introduced
to the industry for voluntary adoption in July 1996. The GFC and the EPA are working
together to ensure its full acceptance by industry.

Some private sector organizations have taken the initiative and have incorporated the
sustainable development concepts with environmental management systems. Currently, two (2)
expatriate companies operating in the area of natural resources have developed management
plans to ensure sustainable exploitation of Guyana's natural resources. This has helped
them to maintain environmental standards and compliance with the relevant Environmental
Protection laws.

Additionally, through technical assistance from the Guyana National Bureau of
Standards, a number of private sector organizations have been encouraging their membership
to move in the direction of implementing the principles contained within the ISO-9000
document. The ISO-14000 principles are also currently being perused with the aim of
possible adoption in their near future.

Challenges

No information is available.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

No information is available.

Information

No information is available.

Research and Technologies

No information is available.

Financing

No information is available.

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of Guyana to the fifth session of
the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.

Unleaded gasoline has been introduced into the Guyana market. As of January 1999,
leaded gasoline will no longer be imported. The GNEA, EPA and GNBS are collaborating on a
programme to ensure gasoline using vehicles are fitted with catalytic converters and with
the setting of vehicle emission standards.

Challenges

No information is available.

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

No information is available.

Information

No information is available.

Research and Technologies

No information is available.

Financing

No information is available.

Cooperation

No information is available.

* * *

This information was provided by the Government of to the fifth session of the
United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.